Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 13, 2026

Characterization of the Sense of Agency over the Actions of Neural-machine Interface-operated Prostheses
Published on: January 7, 2019
From Power to Inaction.
Geoffrey R O Durso1, Pablo Briñol2, Richard E Petty1
11 Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University.
Feeling powerful can lead to inaction when individuals have mixed feelings about a decision. Power amplifies existing reactions, but for ambivalent judgments, it paradoxically promotes less action.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Decision-Making Behavior
Background:
- Power typically increases action orientation.
- Ambivalence typically decreases action orientation.
- The interaction between power and ambivalence on action is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interactive effect of power and ambivalence on individuals' action tendencies.
- To test the hypothesis that power amplifies existing reactions based on self-validation theory.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted to examine action tendencies.
- Experiment 1 focused on positive decisions (promoting an employee).
- Experiment 2 focused on negative decisions (firing an employee).
Main Results:
- Power amplified univalent reactions, increasing action.
- Among individuals with ambivalent judgments, feeling powerful led to less action compared to feeling powerless.
- This interactive effect was observed in both positive and negative decision contexts.
Conclusions:
- Power's effect on action depends on the valence and certainty of an individual's judgment.
- When individuals experience ambivalence, power can increase the likelihood of inaction.
- Self-validation theory helps explain how power influences decision-making under ambivalence.
More Related Videos
07:43Author Spotlight: A Novel Setup to Conduct Naturalistic Laboratory Experiments with Real Human Actors in Scenarios
Published on: August 4, 2023
12:12Irrelevant Stimuli and Action Control: Analyzing the Influence of Ignored Stimuli via the Distractor-Response Binding Paradigm
Published on: May 14, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Bystander Effect
Milgram's Obedience to Authority
Action Potentials
Power
Obedience
Power Expended by a Constant Force